Suicide Blast Kills Dozens at Kabul Voter Registration Centre1:01

A suicide bomb killed 31 and injured over 50 outside a voter registration centre in Kabul on April 22. According to Reuters, the so-called Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blast through its AMAQ news agency. Long-delayed parliamentary elections are due to be held in October in many areas of the country under Taliban control and attacks targeting voter registration centres have increased in recent times. This video shows the aftermath of the blast, including the blood-soaked belongings of the victims, many of which were believed to be women and children. Following the blast, gunfire and protests erupted in the city, and a further explosion was reported at another voter registration centre in the Baghlan region of the country. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful

April 22nd 2018

8 months ago

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Afghan residents inspect the site of a suicide bombing outside a voter registration centre in Kabul on April 22, 2018. Picture: AFPSource:AFP

MOTHERS lining up with children to register to vote in local elections were targeted by a suicide bomber in Afghan capital Kabul, in an Islamic State attack that killed at least 57 people and injured another 100 more.

The sickening assault is the latest on voter registration centres in the embattled country to specifically target civilians, with the splinter Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) now combating both the President Ashraf Ghani’s government and the Taliban.

The large explosion was in the western suburb of Dasht-e Barchi, an area of western Kabul inhabited by many members of the mainly Shi’ite Hazara minority and about 18km from where coalition forces including the Australian Defence Force are based at Kabul International Airport.

Authorities have warned the death toll from the large blast, that shattered windows several kilometres away, was expected to rise in coming hours.

At least 21 women have so far been confirmed dead and five children but 65 more have been seriously injured.

A woman cries at a hospital after she lost her son in the suicide attack. The bomber targeted civilians who had gathered to receive national ID cards. Picture: APSource:AP

The city went into virtual lock down after the blast with only emergency vehicles allowed into the impoverished district.

It was the deadliest blast in Kabul since about 100 people were killed in January by a bomb concealed in an ambulance and it came after repeated warnings that militants could try to disrupt the election process.

The sickening assault is the latest on voter registration centres in the embattled country to specifically target civilians. Picture: APSource:AP

There had already been at least six other attacks on voter registration centres set up in school and community halls for elections to be held this October, with one just last week killing three police officers and wounding several civilians.

Within hours of the latest assault, the ISKP, which was formally proscribed as a terrorist group by the Australian parliament late last year, claimed responsibility.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said a bomber on foot approached the centre where officials were issuing identity cards as part of the registration process for around 10 million voters across Afghanistan.

President Ghani issued a statement condemning the attack and said it “cannot divert us from our aims or weaken this national democratic process”.

Parliament is still sitting three years after its term officially expired and further delays would seriously weaken already fragile confidence in the Afghan political system.